Looking for James Hughes and Catherine Sweeney

Hi Ellie, I live in Drogheda, County Louth and will endeavour to assist you. I am off this evening to a old friends retirement so will try harder tomorrow. Do you have any idea of a parish, assume they were RC as this assists where to look for records from this period.

There is a well known public house in town called Mother Hughes too. 

Here is a site about Louth but if the link does not work search online for Louth Genealogical Sources, no certs etc but information and lists of various people including graves, if you find an interesting grave I should be able to source the inscription.http://jbhall.clahs.ie/ 

There is a Louth Genealogy Facebook page if you want to look it up and see if there are any Hughes there or Sweeney even. If you want to try it. 

I have searched Roots Ireland and see a baptism in St Marys parish in Drogheda (Draw He Da) where I now live, the diocese is Meath but the parish is in South Drogheda, Co. Louth and incorporates some of Meath also. THe names are father Joseph Hughes and Catherine Sweeney not James but this is too close to ignore and the only one to come back with a Hughes father and Sweeney Mother. The year is 1846, the name may be a transcription error. 

Name:Patrick HughsDate of Birth:

Date of Baptism:08-Nov-1846Address:()Parish/District:ST. MARYS DROGHEDAGender:
CountyCo. Meath

Denomination:

Father:Joseph Hughs Mother:Catherine Sweeney Occupation:

Sponsor 1 /
Informant 1:Hughs William Sponsor 2 /
Informant 2:Sweeny Anne 

You can view the entry here https://registers.nli.ie/parishes/0960 

No sign of the marriage as yet but does not appear to be there.

Regards for now,

Pat

Ellie, marriage in Mellifont, more later, no parents names, must go . Pat

Date of Marriage:28-Jan-1846

Parish / District:MELLIFONT
County:Co. Louth

Husband
Wife  Name: JamesHughes
Cathe Sweeny Address:

Newtown Denomination : Roman Catholic
Roman Catholic Occupation:

Age:

Status: Not Married
Not Married
Husband's  Father
Wife's Father Name:

Hughes
Sweeny

Witness 1
Witness 2 Name: Peter Clenton (Clinton)
Patt Hughes  Address:
 

Hi Pat, 

Thank you so very much for your continuing effort in our search for our Hughes/Sweeney family in Ireland.

I think the Joseph Hughes you found is promising. He could have been born James Joseph or Joseph James. We have DNA confirmation that James/Joseph had a sister who was born after the family emigrated to the Boston, Massachusetts area ( Waltham). Tracing her was difficult as I found her named as Jane Hughes on one document: also as Mary Hughes, Mary J Hughes and Jeannie Hughes on others. Sorting her out took a while. It’s possible Joseph/James was listed likewise. It was only through the DNA match that things came together. Meath is also a clue as I’ve seen it mention before, possibly in reference to Patrick Hughes wife?

I was unable to open some of the links you suggested, but I will keep looking. I posted on the County Louth Facebook page as you suggested. Again, many thanks. Ellie

Hi Ellie, a few things that may interest you and also some pointers, I attach the extract for the marriage in 1846 but you can do this your self anyway on https://registers.nli.ie/ and find the parish of Mellifont now commonly called Tullyallen and Mell also but closer to Drogheda, you can also see the birth by searching for St Marys Meath, (Tullyallen or Mellifont will say Armagh as that is the diocese that is it includes Armagh and Louth) 

I can glean a few things from the marriage information, firstly the marriage would take place in the brides parish , so the Sweeney name is in that area, the groom is from Newtown, there are a few Newtowns Louth and Meath. However the witness is named Clenton in the record is probably Clinton, a known name in the area and at a guess I think the Newtown referred to is in Termonfeckin, means the well of Feckin or St Feckin. You can see the various Townlands here https://www.townlands.ie/ A townland is the basic geographic area we use, it varies in size and is irregular in shape. There is a website on the history of this area and Hughes is mentioned but it is not unusual in Louth. See http://www.termonfeckinhistory.ie/

From 1848 to 1864 a major land survey took place across the nation, and I see 2 Sweeney families in Tullyallen, also some Hughes (Sweeney is a more unusual name in the area) the survey is on various subscription sites but is free here, and if you click the link you can see a pop up giving you the plot number and from this you can open the map icon and if you are a swizz you can find the plot and drag the upper right bar to the left and see a modern map, you can also use the ordinance surey site if you are really up for it. The area has not developed as much as other areas. http://www.askaboutireland.ie/griffith-valuation/index.xml?action=nameSearch You can also search under places so Tullyallen and Louth will give you the neighbours if you are interested.

Now back to other things, there is a Facebook page Drogheda Down Memory again private but you could try it, also there is a Drogheda Down Memory Lane - Lost Families but it is not too active lately. Now if you have 10 minutes to yourself go to You Tube and cast it to you TV if possible and search for Ghosts of Drogheda, a 9 minute video of old balck and white photos of Drogheda set to nice music.

There was a fair bit of emigration from Louth around 1850. I can also give you links to some of the areas history, especially around Mellifont / Tullyallen but feel I have throw enough at you for one message.

Feel free to ask follow ups if you wish.

Regards

Pat

Ellie. had a look for a Catherine Sweeney born Louth and found this birth, also searched Ancestry and see you are there but also a birth of a Sweeny in St Marys parish that may be a relation of hers. There are a lot of James or John Hughes born 1820 to 1830.  So did not try to sort them there is only one Catherine Sweeney.

Catherine Sweeny             

 Date of Baptism:              04-Mar-1825

Address:  Parish/District:  DROGHEDA

County Co. Louth

Denomination:  Roman Catholic

Father: Owen Sweeny  Mother:  Margret Reilly                            

Informant 1:       John Magough

Informant 2:       Elizabeth Dolan

Pat

Pat, these are wonderful leads, but as you mentioned, a lot to sort. If you have access to ancestry. com and can see my tree you can find info on some of the Hughes descendants here. If not, let me know and I will send you access to my information. So interesting to map where they came from and where they settled down. There are also a few photos. Warm regards, Ellie

Hi Ellie, I have been away a lot and catching up. I looked in the Tithe Applottments (tax collected from 1824 to 1838) for landowners over 1 acre to the established church (Church of Ireland) Protestant church. Anyway I searched for Sweeney in Meath and got only 1 near Drogheda, Edward  Sweeney in 1833, just a name and address of Bettystown Colp now Colpe (Cope is what is said) which is the next twonland to me, this family would probably in St Mary's parish, http://titheapplotmentbooks.nationalarchives.ie/search/tab/home.jsp there are also a few Sweeneys in Louth. The spelling Sweeny brings back more plus the Sweeney above including 2 in Termonfeckin, an Edward and an Owen, the Edward could be the same as in Colpe, but they are maybe 4 or 5 miles apart and require a leap of faith. I also thought the Hughes man was from around the Termonfeckin area, you can search the above link and see what you think.

It does not match into the marriage taking place in Mellifont unless that is where she lived at the time of marriage or was a friend or relation of the priest, but I like my research to have no loose ends as other wise we are guessing at best.  It does appear though this is your correct area. 

McLysaghts book the Surnames of Ireland says Sweeney plus variants is from the 14th century in Ireland from the Gaelic Mac Suibhne meaning pleasant the opposite of "dubhine" dark or black. It is a Galloglass name, here is a link to some more on such if interested.https://www.yourirish.com/history/medieval/gallowglasses I started out in Donegal and later was found in Kerry and Cork.

Alas all that is said of Hughes is it is an English name found all over Ireland but sometimes a variant of the Irish name Hayes. I thought Hughes was actually Welsh but thats what the man said.

Hope you found all that interesting. Also on the 1796 Flax Growers list there is an Edward Sweeney in Termonfeckin also a Patrick, the only Sweeney in Meath is in Kilbride, again this is only people growing flax so they could still be there, it shows that Sweeney was there pre 1800 is all you can take from it.

Could not find your tree as I am not sure how to.

Regards

Pat

Regards

Pat.... I just now got this message and it’s dated a week ago. We have a distant DNA match with someone who has an Edward Hughes in her tree, but she isn’t responding to our messages. Sadly, this is not uncommon. Most people who post their DNA test results do not even have a tree attached and some gave trees with obvious misinformation....as in the child has a birthdate that makes it older than it’s parents. Frustrating, as line you, I want the correct information. I’m wondering if you Ireland XO wants to follow the emigration of its people to see how they fared? I mean, just as I wonder where my ancestors can from, do the folks there wonder where they went?Thanks to you, I have more leafs to follow up. My ancestry.com username is ellielewis525@yahoo.com. My tree is public so you should be able to find it. The Title Families are Mays, Bond, Wheeler, Leahy (whom I’m searching on another thread) Hughes, etc.... 

Regards, 

Ellie,

I did a search for Leahy and your post with the name Sweeney popped up. Interesting because my Gteat Aunt, Bridget Leahy (1845-1920) married Michael Edward Sweeney (b. Kells, Meath, Ireland, 1830, d. Southerland, O'Brien, Iowa, 1915), m. Darlington, Wisconsin 1860.  I have no idea if they are related but probably are.

Bridget was baptized, Miltown Malbay, County Clare, Ireland. I imagine they did not know each other in Ireland. Bridget's father, Thomas Leahy b. Ireland 1812, d. In Railroad accident in possibly Wiconsin in 1857. Bridget's 3, Margaret O'Connor,  b. Ireland 1821, d. Milwaukee,  Wisconsin, 1906. Buried Holy Rosary Cemetary, Darlington, Wisconsin.  Link to my Virtual  Cemetary   https://www.findagrave.com/virtual-cemetery/313792

I have Michael's parents as Thomas and Elizabeth Sweeney. 

Please let me know if there is any connection.

Cheers,

Jim Leahy 

Hi Jim,

Thank you got your post.  AsI am just learning about my Leahy family, I can't be of much help here. As far as I know, none of my Leahy ended up in Wisconsin. Most were in the Boston area and one son's family in New York State. Information about the earlier family in Ireland and you see most of it here from Pat. I gleaned a bit of information from Mass Archives last summer, but I have CB not had much luck lately. Have you done any DNA testing yet? I have a public tree on ancestry.com if you're interested. 
 

Regards, 

Ellie
 

Ellie,

I apologize for taking so long to respond.

Margaret O'Connor's parents are Patrick O'Connor and Margaret Hanlin. Patrick and Margaret had two other children: James and Honora.  I believe they were from County Clare. 

Margaret O'Connor (1821-1906), who married Thomas W LEAHY had 3 children born in County Clear:  Michael (1841-?), Honora (1843-?), John (1844-?), and Bridget (1845-1920).

Yes, I have DNA tests on Ancestry.com, 23andme.com, & MyHeritage.com.  my Aunt LeOra has DNA tests on Ancestry.com & MyHeritage.com.  She would be listed as LL on Ancestry.com and managed by Mr, LeahyJim (Screen Name)

I hope we can make a connection,

Jim